Written Answers Friday 2 July 2010

Scottish Executive

Apprenticeships

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown by category of the 20,000 modern apprenticeship places provided in the last year as announced on 17 March 2010.

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a breakdown of the successful applicants for the £1,000 offer under the Invest in an Apprentice scheme that ran from January to March 2010.

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the additional funding under the £1,000 Invest in an Apprentice scheme offer that ran from January to March 2010 was given to Tesco.

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the additional funding under the £1,000 Invest in an Apprentice scheme offer that ran from January to March 2010 was given to British Gas.

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the additional funding under the £1,000 Invest in an Apprentice scheme offer that ran from January to March 2010 was given to Superdrug.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Government does not hold this information centrally. I will ask the Chief Executive of Skills Development Scotland to write to you with the information you have requested.

Skills Development Scotland

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what agency was employed by Skills Development Scotland to devise its proposed new brand image, Scotland the Works.

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by Skills Development Scotland to develop the proposed new brand image, Scotland the Works.

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent by Skills Development Scotland on its recent all-staff conference held at venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aviemore; who organised the events; who authorised the expenditure, and how many staff attended.

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what company was employed to record the video message from the chief executive of Skills Development Scotland for use at its recent all-staff event; how much it cost to produce, and who authorised the expenditure.

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans Skills Development Scotland has to appoint two new senior directors; what areas of expertise they will have; what their salary bands will be, and when they will start work.

Keith Brown: This is an operational matter for Skills Development Scotland. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to you with this information.

Correction

The reply to question S3W-33687 which was originally answered on 26 May 2010, has been corrected: see page 9597 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-10/wa0630.htm.